Movement device, in particular for fluid and/or pasty products

ABSTRACT

A movement device, in particular for fluid or pasty products, comprising: a helical element ( 2 ), arranged with a helical development about a longitudinal axis (x) thereof and being predisposed to rotate concentrically externally of a cooling element ( 100 ) in such a way as to push a fluid product in advancement along the longitudinal axis (x); a first connecting element ( 3 ), predisposed to reciprocally connect and maintain the turns of the helical element ( 2 ) distant from one another; a hub ( 4 ), predisposed to enable connecting the helical element ( 2 ) to a rotating element ( 110 ) predisposed to activate the helical element ( 2 ) in rotation about the longitudinal axis (x) thereof; scraper means ( 5, 7, 8, 9 ) predisposed to drag contactingly on an external surface of the cooling element ( 100 ) such as to remove accumulations and/or residues of material from the external surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention regards a movement device, in particular for fluidor pasty products.

BACKGROUND ART

In greater detail, the moving device object of the invention isparticularly suitable to be used in machines predisposed for dispensinga refrigerated fluid or pasty food product, as an example water-ices ora milk and/or water based product, such as a shake, a yogurt, a cream oran ice cream.

Since the above listed products must be conserved at low temperatures,machines of t his type generally comprise a cooling element locatedinside a reservoir wherein the product to be dispensed is contained. Thecooling element, normally consisting of an evaporator, is contained in acylindrical casing. The reservoir is generally equipped with a faucet,located in a front area of the same reservoir, to enable the dispensingof the product.

Machines of the known type are further equipped with a movement devicewhich comprises a helical element, arranged with helical developmentaround a longitudinal axis, which is predisposed to rotateconcentrically externally of the cooling element. The inclination of thehelix and the sense of rotation of the helical element are such as topush the fluid product in advancement along the longitudinal axis of thehelical element towards the front area of the reservoir where the faucetis located for dispensing the product.

In the machines of known type a serious drawback is encountered. Theexternal surface of the cooling element is in fact a seat for theformation of accumulations of ice and/or of frozen products. Normally,after a certain period of functioning of the machine, the externalsurface of the cooling element is covered by a layer of ice and/or offrozen product which strongly limits both the thermal exchange betweenthe cooling element and the product, and the flow of the productcontacting the cooling element. An excessive thickness of ice and/or offrozen product can further trigger an interference with the movementdevice which could be damaged and could also lead to the damage of themembers for transmitting the rotary motion.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The scope of the present invention is to provide a movement device whichallows to overcome the drawbacks that can be encountered in the priorart.

An advantage of the invention is that it enables to maintain the surfaceof the cooling element constantly free from any accumulation of iceand/or frozen product.

Another advantage of the invention is to determine an efficient movementof the product inside the reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will appearclearly from the indicative, and so not limitative, description of apreferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, as illustratedin the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the movement device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of the movement device accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the movement device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the device in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the movement device according to thepresent invention installed in a machine for dispensing fluid and/orpasty products.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As already said, the movement device 1 object of the invention ispreferably used in machines that dispense fluid and/or pasty products,for example water-ices or a milk and/or water based product, such as ashake, a yogurt, a cream or an ice cream. An example of dispensermachine is illustrated in FIG. 5. Machines of this type generallycomprise a cooling element 100 located inside a reservoir 120(represented in sectional view) wherein the product to be dispensed iscontained. The cooling element 100 comprises a cylindrical wrappingwhich presents a peripheral cylindrical surface 101 and a front surface102 oriented towards a front area of the reservoir 120 wherein means arepositioned, typically a faucet 121, for dispensing the product.

The movement device 1 comprises a helical element 2, arranged withhelical development around a longitudinal axis x and predisposed toconcentrically rotate externally of a cooling element 100. Theinclination of the helix and the sense of rotation of the helicalelement 2 are such as to push a fluid product in advancement along thelongitudinal axis x, in particular towards the front area of thereservoir where the faucet 121 for dispensing the product is positioned.

A first connecting element 3 is predisposed to reciprocally connect andmaintain the turns of the helical element 2 distant from one another. Ina preferred embodiment of the device, the connecting element 3 isarranged parallel to the longitudinal axis x.

A hub 4 is predisposed to enable connecting the helical element 2 to arotating element 110 predisposed to activate the helical element 2 inrotation around the longitudinal axis x thereof. The rotating element110 can be constituted for example, but not only, by a motor shaftarranged concentrically to the cooling element 100, as represented inFIG. 5.

The movement device further comprises scraper means 5, 7, 8, 9predisposed to drag contactingly the external surface of the coolingelement 100 so as to remove accumulations and/or residues of materialfrom said external surface. The presence of such scraper means 5, 7, 8,9 is extremely advantageous. Accumulation of solid material on thesurface of the cooling element 100, in particular of ice and/or offrozen product, hinders in fact both the flow of the product, and thethermal exchange between the product and the cooling element. Thescraper means 5, 7, 8, 9 allow to maintain the surface of the coolingelement 100 always free from any accumulation of material, andparticularly from ice and/or from accumulations of frozen product, sothat the product is constantly cooled with high efficiency. The flow ofthe product turns out to be particularly smooth, so that the dispensingof the product is always ready and abundant. Furthermore, alltransmission members for the rotating motion to the movement device donot undergo any overload due to the friction of the product on thesurface of the cooling element 100.

In a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, the scraper meanscomprise at least a first scraper edge 5, predisposed to dragcontactingly the cylindrical peripheral surface 101 of the coolingelement 100. Such a first scraper edge 5 can have a continuousdevelopment or, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, can be sub-divided in aplurality of scraper edges 51 aligned and distant from each other bypredetermined pitches. In both cases, the scraper blade 5 is preferablyassociated with the first connecting element 3.

The movement device according to the present invention can further beprovided with a second scraper edge 7 which, analogously to the firstscraper edge 5, is predisposed to contactingly drag the peripheralcylindrical surface 101 of the cooling element 100. Also the secondscraper edge 7 can have a continuous development or, as seen in FIGS. 1and 2, can be sub-divided in a plurality of scraper edges 71 aligned andspaced from each other by predetermined pitches. Also the second scraperedge 7, in both embodiments, is preferably associated with a secondconnecting element 6 predisposed to reciprocally connect and maintainthe turn s of the helical element 2 spaced from one another. Thepresence of a second connecting element 6 confers a bigger resistanceand bigger rigidity to the helical element 2.

In the case both scraper edges 5 and 7 are sub-divided in a plurality ofscraper edges 51, 71, the scraper edges 51, 71 of both edges can bereciprocally staggered along the longitudinal axis x. In particular, thescraper edges 51, 71 are arranged in such a way that each scraper edge51 of the first scraper edge 5 sweeps, in the course of its own rotationmotion, a defined cylindrical surface which is placed beside at leastone cylindrical surface, which does not overlap, or overlaps to alimited extent the previous one, swept by a scraper edge 71 of thesecond scraper edge 7. The entire cylindrical surface 101 of the coolingelement 100 is thus swept according to consecutive cylindrical stripsswept by various scraper edges 51, 71. T his allows to obtain anefficient scraping of the cylindrical surface 101 of the cooling element100 limiting the stresses of each scraper edge 5, 7.

Preferably the scraper means 5, 7, 8, 9 further comprise a first frontalscraper 8, predisposed to contactingly drag the front surface 102 of thecooling element 100. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, asmall arm 81 connects the hub 4 to t he helical element 2. The firstfrontal scraper 8 is preferably associated with such a small arm 81which extends between the hub 4 and the helical element 2.

The first frontal scraper 8 comprises a scraper edge 8 a shaped such asto pass very close to, but without touching, a thermometer 103 whichprojects in longitudinal direction from the front surface 102 of thecooling element 100. In particular, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, thescraper edge 8 a has a length such as to sweep, during its own rotationmotion around the longitudinal axis x, an annular ring which extendsbetween the hub 4 and the thermometer 103.

Preferably the scraper means 5, 7, 8, 9 comprise also a second frontalscraper 9, predisposed to contactingly drag the front surface 102 of thecooling element 100. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, asecond small arm 91 connects the hub 4 to the helical element 2. Thesecond frontal scraper 9 is associated preferably with the second smallarm 91.

Analogously to the first frontal scraper, the second frontal scraper 9comprises a scraper edge 9 a shaped such as to pass very close to, butwithout touching, the thermometer 103. The scraper edge 9 a of thesecond frontal scraper 9 is arranged and shaped such as to sweep, duringits own rotation motion around the longitudinal axis x, an annular ringwhich extends between the thermometer 103 and the external edge of thefront surface 102 of the cooling element.

The combined action of the first and of the second frontal scraper 8, 9thus enables to sweep the entire front surface 102 of the coolingelement 100, except an annular ring that contains the section of thethermometer 103, and the area covered by the hub 4. The cleaning of thefront surface 102 of t he cooling element 100 is extremely important asit is the closest surface to the zone in which the faucet for dispensingthe product is located, zone to which an efficient cooling is veryimportant. In the same way, also the cleaning of the thermometer 103 isvery important to w arrant a correct detection of the temperature of theproduct.

The device according to the invention comprises a fist frontal blade 10arranged downstream of the helical element 2 with reference to the flowof the product. Such a first frontal blade 10 is shaped such as to pushthe fluid product in advancement along the longitudinal axis xdownstream of the helical element 2. The presence of the first frontalblade 10 offers a supplement of push to the product downstream of thehelical element, so that the flow of available product at the dispensingfaucet 121 is bigger with respect to the flow made available by devicesof the known type for which the pushing action on the product is limitedto the sole helical element. The blade 10 further determines a positivemixing of the product in the zone in which the faucet 121 is located.

From a constructive point of view, the first frontal blade 10 extendsfrom a peripheral portion of the movement device towards thelongitudinal axis x. As can be seen in figures from 1 to 4, the firstfrontal blade 10 is connected to the end portion of the helical element2 and to the first small arm 81. The blade extends away from the helicalelement 2 with a preferably curved development the concavity of which isfacing externally. The blade further presents a free end which islocated in proximity of a median plane of the helical element 2.

To further increase the push o n the product and the flow of productsupplied to the faucet 121, the device 1 can be provided with a secondfrontal blade 11, arranged downstream of the helical element 2, shapedas well such as to push a fluid product in advancement along thelongitudinal axis x downstream of the helical element 2.

Also the second frontal blade 11 extends from a peripheral portion ofthe movement device 1 towards the longitudinal axis x and has a curveddevelopment with concavity facing externally. As can be seen in figuresfrom 1 to 4, in analogy with the first frontal blade 10, the secondfrontal blade 11 is connected to the second small arm 91 and has a freeend that is located in proximity of a median plane of the helicalelement 2. Preferably, the free ends of the two frontal blades arealigned on a median plane of the helical element 2. In a preferredembodiment, the two frontal blades are reciprocally symmetrical withrespect to the longitudinal axis x of the device 1.

As already said, the conformation of both frontal blades is such as topush the product towards the front zone of the reservoir 120 and towardsthe faucet 121. In particular, the front blades are shaped such as topush the product towards the zone for entering the faucet 121. Thisdetermines a constant and abundant supply of product to the faucet 121,so that the dispensing of the product is always ready and continuous.

Preferably, the frontal blades are further shaped such that the freeends of the same blades come very close to the front wall of thereservoir 120. Such a conformation of the frontal blades allows toremove any possible accumulation of product from the front surface ofthe reservoir, so that the product, also by effect of the remixinginduced by the frontal blades, is always maintained in an optimalconservation state.

1. A movement device in combination with a cooling element, inparticular for fluid or pasty products, the movement device comprising:a helical element, arranged with a helical development about alongitudinal axis thereof and said helical element being predisposed torotate concentrically externally of a cooling element in such a way asto push a fluid product in advancement along the longitudinal axis; afirst connecting element, predisposed to reciprocally connect andmaintain turns of the helical element distant from one another; a hub,predisposed to enable connecting the helical element to a rotatingelement predisposed to activate the helical element in rotation aboutthe longitudinal axis thereof; scraper means predisposed to dragcontactingly on an external surface of the cooling element such as toremove accumulations and/or residues of material from the externalsurface, the scraper means comprising at least a first scraper edgewhich is predisposed to drag contactingly on a peripheral cylindricalsurface of the cooling element, and a second scraper edge predisposed todrag contactingly on the peripheral cylindrical surface of the coolingelement, the first scraper edge being sub-divided into a plurality ofscraper edges, the second scraper edge being sub-divided into aplurality of scraper edges, said plurality of scraper edges of the firstscraper edge and said plurality of scraper edges of the second scraperedge being reciprocally staggered along said longitudinal axis.
 2. Adevice of claim 1, wherein the first scraper edge is associated with thefirst connecting element.
 3. A device of claim 1, further comprising; asecond connecting element predisposed to reciprocally connect andmaintain the turns of the helical element distanced from one another,the second scraper edge being associated with the second connectingelement.
 4. A device of claim 1, wherein the scraper means comprises afirst frontal scraper, predisposed to drag contactingly on a frontsurface of the cooling element.
 5. A device of claim 4, wherein thefirst frontal scraper comprises a scraper edge shaped in such a way asto pass very close to, but without touching, a thermometer whichprojects in a longitudinal direction from the front surface of thecooling element.
 6. A device of claim 4, wherein the first frontalscraper is associated with the hub.
 7. A device of claim 4, wherein thescraper means comprises a second frontal scraper, predisposed tocontactingly drag on the front surface of the cooling element.
 8. Adevice of claim 7, wherein the second frontal scraper comprises ascraper edge shaped such as to pass very close to, but without touching,a thermometer which projects in a longitudinal direction from the frontsurface of the cooling element.
 9. A device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first frontal blade, arranged downstream of the helicalelement, conformed such as to push the fluid product in advancementalong the longitudinal axis downstream of the helical element.
 10. Adevice of claim 9, wherein said first frontal blade extends from aperipheral portion of the movement device towards the longitudinal axisand said first frontal blade exhibits a curved development with aconcavity facing externally.
 11. A device of claim 9, furthercomprising: a second frontal blade, arranged downstream of the helicalelement, conformed in such a way as to push the fluid product inadvancement along the longitudinal axis downstream of the helicalelement.
 12. A device of claim 11, wherein the second frontal bladeextends from a peripheral portion of the movement device towards thelongitudinal axis and said second frontal blade exhibits a curveddevelopment with a concavity facing externally.
 13. A device of claim 5,wherein the first frontal scraper is associated with the hub.
 14. Adevice of claim 10, further comprising: a second frontal blade, arrangeddownstream of the helical element, conformed in such a way as to pushthe fluid product in advancement along the longitudinal axis downstreamof the helical element.